Benjamin H. Friedman: Biden doesn't like Russia's meddling in ...

In fact, rhetorical U.S. support may just prevent Kyiv from recognizing the need to make unpleasant sacrifices to accommodate its much stronger neighbor.Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, seized Crimea and supported separatist rebels who continue to fight in the eastern Donbas region, it has generally been taken as a given in Washington that the U.S. should do something to help Ukraine prevail. Russia might also use the possibility of Ukraine’s NATO membership as a cynical excuse to attack.Second, bluffing might encourage the expensive transfer of more U.S. military forces to Europe or other risky moves meant to signal a willingness to fight a potentially suicidal war. Becoming a permanent protectorate of the U.S. is a mirage that could prevent Kyiv from doing what its security really requires, which is some form of accommodation with Russia while remaining neutral in its competition with NATO.The point here isn’t that the United States should do nothing if Russia invades Ukraine.